Defensive backs gobble up game balls

IRVING – Three members of the Cowboys’ much-maligned secondary received game balls from coach Wade Phillips after the 37-20 victory over Miami.

Ken Hamlin, Roy Williams and Anthony Henry combined for four interceptions as the defense recorded five takeaways Sunday. Here’s what Phillips had to say about all five game-ball winners:

 Ken Hamlin: “He had six tackles and no missed tackles, something he emphasized himself. Coming off last week, he felt he missed some tackles he shouldn’t have. He had a big interception. But the key point was he felt like he needed to tackle better and he did. He worked on it and improved in that area.”

 Roy Williams: “He had an interception. He had several big plays. Some big tackles on third down that made them punt. It got us the ball back. Roy had the kind of game we thought Roy could play and will continue to play.”

 Nick Folk: “He had three field goals, but the 47-yarder in the dirt with us still seven points ahead was a big, big factor. If he misses, they get field position and are only seven behind, and they are playing at home and they get the momentum. It was a pressure kick for him, although it wasn’t quite the game winner at the end of the game. But he knew it was a big kick, and we knew it. And he came through.”

 Marc Colombo: “I thought our offensive line played really well. They were dominant in the game as they have been the first two games. We didn’t give game balls to all of them. We gave it to the guy who graded out the highest and that was Marc Colombo, although all of them graded high. The quarterback wasn’t pressured a whole lot, and we were coming off the ball in the second half, showing the power and strength we have.”

 Patrick Crayton: “He dislocated his finger, got it taped back together and had a big return for us that set up a big touchdown. Anybody that makes a big play like that should get a game ball. He had a lot of help. He had some good blocking on that, but he made a great return.”

 Anthony Henry: “He graded 97 percent, and I don’t know many DBs that grade 97 percent. He had two interceptions, recovered an onside kick, had four or five tackles. Like Hamlin, he was probably too hard on himself after the opener. He went around all week saying, ‘I’m going to improve. I’m goiing to play better. I’m going to work hard. I owe it to the rest of the guys to play my game well.’ So Anthony Henry got a game ball for having an outstanding game, a monster game really for a defensive back. His two interceptions were really big for us and, of course, getting the onside kick at the end was big.”